7th US police officer suspended in connection to Tyre Nichols’ death

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Memphis Police Department (MPD) in the US confirmed Tuesday that a seventh officer has been suspended in the investigation into the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.

Police said Monday that seven officers, including Preston Hemphill, were relieved of duty Jan 8, one day after the brutal arrest of Nichols.

It said the actions and inactions of Hemphill and other officer, whom they did not identify, “have been and continue to be the subject of this investigation.”

Five officers involved with Nichols’ arrest --Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith, were fired from the MPD following the killing.

They were all charged with murder in Nichols’ death.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Fire Department (MFD) said Monday it terminated three employees in connection with their response to the fatal beating.

Nichols, 29, died Jan. 10, three days after being exposed to police violence during a traffic stop in Memphis in the state of Tennessee.

A graphic video released Friday showed five now-former officers initially pulling over Nichols and later throwing him to the ground, trying to cuff him and using a taser before Nichols escapes and runs away but is later caught and beaten.

Nichols is heard calling out “Mom!” as officers punch, kick him in the face, pepper spray and strike him with a baton before his body goes limp.